Bessanese's Tour

Cibrario Refuge (2616 m)

The refuge

The dining hall

The kitchen

The bedroom

Access from Margone:
Once you have reached the plateau where the little town of Usseglio lies, drive over the nearby villages heading towards Margone that you'll reach in a very short time. Please leave your car parked in the main square where a bar-restaurant can be found.

Upward slope:

• Departing site: Margone (1410 m)
• Hiking time: 3 h 30 min
• Hiking diffulty: E (Medium hiking rate)

Once you've left your car at the parking area , proceed northward through the village; the trail crosses an old unpaved road and goes straight on through bushes and meadows until it meets the old unpaved road again at its final extension .
Here the ascending slope features a sharp rise. The trail winds through meadows and passes by the old collapsed huts of Trappette. Passed the last huts the trail bends to the right and continues until it reaches a tract of grassland where at half coast it will come up against the remnants of the “ decauville” that is to say the narrow gauge railway that used to connect Malciaussia to the Lake dietro la Torre . It had been used to carry the material needed for constructing the Lake "della Rossa" dam. The trail runs perpendicularly the decauville and heads straight to the spur of lower Malciaussia by a steep rise. From the spur you can enjoy the view over Arnas's vale while the trail continues in a slightly downward gradient, initially meandering through bushes and finally coming up to the Rio della Lera “ Lera Stream “ where it will intersect the path coming from Alpe Barmas. A spring of freshwater named “Lera spring” is to be met prior to the trails conjuction . It is known as a good and refreshing restoration point that cannot be missed . Unfortunately,    due to fewer precipitations in respect to the past, the spring may likely be found dry. The trail will run from the “ Lera Stream “ as described on the next itinerary.

Access from Usseglio:
Just beyond the central dwellings of Usseglio, past Villaretto's site and just before the Hotel/restaurant “La Furnasa“ turn to the right and drive along the narrow and steep road that crosses the Arnas's vale; continue driving for a couple of kilometres leaving behind you the little church of S.Anna, coming up to Alpe Barmas after a few steep turns that at times may turn to be untarmacked. This will be the starting point of the trail and therefore park your car at one of the parking places available.

 Upward slope:

• Departing site: Alpe Barmàs (1547 m)
• Hiking time: 3 h
• Hiking difficulty: E (Medium hiking rate)

Start sloping down the trail towards the Rio Peraciaval, cross the wooden bridge spanning over it, and commence rising a grassy slant at the end of which the trail turns to the left simply fording the brook coming down from the flank of mount Lera. The path actually continues between tracts of brushwood and grassland reaching a height of approximately 1800 metres meeting the remnants of the “decauville” that is to say the narrow gauge railway that used to connect Malciaussia to the “Lake dietro la Torre“. It had been used to carry the material needed for constructing the Lake "Della Rossa" dam. The path follows the rails on the right for a few hundred metres hence beginning a 200 metres steep gradient slope on the left that will terminate near a waterfall descending from the Rio della Lera previously crossed; At this point the path will intersect the one coming from Margone. The trail will start ascending again more regularly passing through shrubs of roses and rhododendrons after having hiked over a brief and slight slope around the buttresses of the “prigioni della Lera“. Now, a 300 metres ascending gradient will take you very close to the “ Rio Peraciaval “ waterfall that is quite visible from downstream. A sturdy bridge spans firmly over the stream allowing an easy crossing. At this point the trail features a wide turn leading to a depression hosting an artificial water basin; the path will keep along the orographical leftside of the stream thus reaching the steep slopes encompassing the basin. It will maintain its steepness and the superjacent “Piano del Sabiunin“ will be finally reached after a series of 17 steep and slanting u-turns . The refuge Cibrario is now at your reach with its splendid view for the full enjoyment and satisfaction of the mountains' hiker.